Participant Spotlight: Polly Bennett

Polly Bennett is a freelance Movement Director and Choreographer. She holds both an MA in Movement from Central School of Speech and Drama and a History of Art MA from the University of Edinburgh. She was resident movement practitioner at the Royal Shakespeare Company 2013, and has recently joined the Board at The Actors Centre. Polly was Mass Choreographer on the Sochi Winter Olympic Opening and Closing Ceremonies, following her role as Movement Assistant on the London 2012 Olympics Opening Ceremony. Her other theatre credits include: Nut (National Theatre Shed), A Mad World My Masters (RSC),Hysteria (Hampstead), Dunsinane (National Theatre Scotland) and Mudlarks (Bush Theatre). Polly is also the co-founder of The Mono Box, a not-for-profit company which hosts donated plays by UK’s leading actors, directors and playwrights and support actors at the early stages of their career.

This essential physical workshop will focus on the notion of meaning and movement and how the body can say so much about the human character in a matter of seconds. Using techniques she uses in theatrical rehearsal rooms, Movement Director Polly Bennett will explore habitual movement and investigate how opening up your senses to ideas of space, weight and time will open the door to more creative opportunities.

2 Minute Interview:

How does your workshop relate to being in the NOW?

During a time where physical communication is being threatened by the technology that keeps us together whilst keeping us apart, this workshop will explore the value of sharing physical human space with other people. By experimenting with physical impulse you will be invited to notice and observe how your body changes just by being aware.

What are you most looking forward to doing within your slot at NOW?

Sharing my theatre practice with a new and diverse group, and seeing how it transfers to the context of NOW’s whole programme at Deptford Lounge.

Any tips on how the audience can most benefit from your workshop?

Be curious, and don’t expect a dance routine (although that is strongly encouraged after-hours!)

Also At Wilderness Festival (August 2014)

The MonoBox: Theatre and Performance in the NOW

This Q&A discussion will question what kind of theatre should be being made now in 2014. Shakespeare is still being performed, and it’s not unusual to see actors doing circus tricks but what is the theatre we are making saying about right now? Polly Bennett will be speaking to Matt Ryan and Matthew Evans of Gameshow, who make bold, exciting, participatory work and Tom Ross-Williams, Artistic Director of political theatre company Populace, the discussion will question what kind of theatre contemporary audiences want to see and the various ways we can go about making it.

2 Minute Interview:

What are you most looking forward to doing within your slot at NOW at Wilderness?

We are looking forward to seeing how the panels opinions of theatre-making compliment and clash!

Any tips on how the audience can most benefit from your workshop at Wilderness?

The audience can best benefit by asking questions and sharing their opinions too. We’d love to know what they think!